Dallas Mavericks' Jose Juan Barea holds up the championship trophy after Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks Sunday, June 12, 2011, in Miami. The Mavericks won 105-95 to win the series. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
(AP2011)

J.J. Barea made a pretty strong case to become a starter next season.

The Puerto Rican point guard helped the Dallas Mavericks finish off the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, 105-95, to secure its first NBA championship.

Barea, Jason Kidd's understudy at point guard, stepped into the spotlight during the Finals. He started the last three games of the Finals – and the Mavericks went undefeated in those matchups.

He averaged 13 points per game and just under five assists per game during that winning streak.

Barea sliced and diced Miami's vaunted defense throughout the series by penetrating in the paint and dishing off Dirk Nowitzki and his other teammates.

Nowitzki, after getting off to a cold start, finished off with 21 points. The 7-footer won the Finals most valuable player.